We Hear the Christmas Angels: True Stories of Their Presence

by Evelyn Bence

Book Overview

Angels delivered God's message of love as they watched over the Christ Child in the stable on the first Christmas long ago. This volume contains sixty accounts of people who have been touched by Christmas miracles - everyday people who have been brought tidings of comfort, protection, and joy by God's messengers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824947045
• ISBN13: 9780824947040
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Guideposts
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Best Christmas Collection of Stories Ive Read...

Ok, I admit upfront that I'm a tad bit biased since a story I wrote is found within this same book, "We Hear the Christmas Angels". But after receiving my initial copies I found myself eagerly reading the other authors' work and hands down this is the best Christmas collection I've ever had the pleasure of reading. And I've read many including Cup of Comfort's very good Christmas book, Chicken Soup's various Xmas books, Cheryl Kirking's wonderful "All is Calm, All is Bright" and my own personal collection of stories, "Stories From the Manger". All of these are high recommended and enjoyable, but Guideposts really put together a magical, holy, reverent and moving book with this one. I highly advise you to get a copy and read it throughout the month of December, or starting Thanksgiving night. It'll make for the best Christmas holidays you've ever experienced! I also hope you enjoy my story. The story has been shared by ministers and priests from Florida to Wisconsin to date, as part or whole of their Christmas Eve sermons. I'm honored to have God use my story, His miraculous modern day story, to His glory. David Michael Smith

"We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell."

WE HEAR THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS, a collection of true stories about God's presence made manifest during the Christmas season, kicks off with the story of its famous title. As Richard W. O'Donnell tells the tale, it was a week and a half before Christmas in 1868 and Lewis Redner was in a frenzy of preparation. As the choirmaster for the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia, he was responsible for selecting the music the choirs would sing at the Christmas services and making sure the singers got enough practice. This seemed like a tall enough order when the rector, Phillips Brooks, walked into his office and presented a poem he'd written and asked Redner to set it to music and have the children sing it on Christmas. Three years earlier, Brooks had taken a trip to the Holy Land and traveled the dusty, windy road to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. The experience had provided fodder for some of Brooks's most memorable sermons, and the poem he handed Redner further demonstrated the depth to which he'd be affected by being in Christ's birthplace --- he clearly felt overwhelmed by the miracle that had taken place there so long ago. But Redner was overwhelmed by the work already on his plate. Redner knew he couldn't say no to the important rector, but he didn't know how he was going to find time to do the poem justice. On Sunday, five days before the Christmas service, the choir would have its final rehearsal before the special service, and all the music would need to be ready by then. Redner hoped to dedicate some time to the project on Saturday, but when the day came, he was distracted by one thing after another: a choir robe was missing, there was a problem with the organ, he ran out of ink for his pen. Redner crawled into bed that night exhausted and frustrated. I can't write this music, Redner thought as he fell asleep. If You want it sung at the Christmas service, Lord, You will have to write it Yourself. O'Donnell writes, "Deep into the night, Redner awoke. Did he hear singing? Redner opened his eyes. Someone was whispering a tune in his ear. Redner listened, transfixed, until the singing stopped. Then he lit a candle and looked around the room. He was alone. Seizing a piece of paper from the nightstand, he quickly jotted down the song he'd hear. One day I will find the perfect words for it. With a smile on his face, Render snuffed the wick and closed his eyes." You guessed it. The next morning Redner realized the simple tune was just right for Brooks's poem. Redner called the piece "The Angel's Strain," giving credit where credit was due, and on Christmas the congregation at Philadelphia's Church of the Holy Trinity heard the debut of Brooks's poem, which has since become a holiday classic: "O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie..." The song concludes with the phrase, "We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!" And the book, WE HEAR THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS, wears